Avalanche left with what-ifs

Lockout has already claimed 6 games through Oct. 24

One thing that will never be known: what would have happened had the Avalanche played its previously scheduled opening-night game Thursday night against the St. Louis Blues.

The NHL lockout -- the third in league history in the past 18 years -- already has claimed tonight's and five other Avs games through Oct. 24 and there is no end in sight to the impasse.

Also still unknown: what kind of team would the Avalanche be this season had it started on time? While a stalemate at the bargaining table between NHL owners and players continues, theoretically a season is only a couple of weeks away if an agreement is struck.

That leads to other unknowns: would a shortened season be a help or a hindrance to an Avs team that finished last season as the league's youngest squad at a little more than an average of 26 years old? Would the progression the team made in 2010-11 (a point increase to 88 from 68) be stunted by a cobbled-together season in which more experienced teams enter into it with "second-half point pressure" already on the front burner?

Until the puck drops for real, it's all speculation. But it seems reasonable to surmise that the Avs' youth and lack of recent success (no playoffs in four of the past six seasons) could be a hindrance in a shortened regular season.

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A more veteran team could find it easier to come together quickly for a playoff run, while teams such as the Avs are still trying to find their identity.

"We had a long offseason, and we really want to get back to take the next step that we know we can take," Avs captain Gabriel Landeskog said recently. "I think everybody was really excited to get back at it. That makes this lockout so frustrating for us."

The Avs have 22 players signed, at a payroll of a just more than $54 million. Still unsigned is center Ryan O'Reilly, whose agent, Mark Guy, said negotiations would not resume with the team until the lockout is over.

The Avs will need O'Reilly back if they harbor realistic playoff hopes. They were hopeful of a rejuvenated offense overall, with the return of a healthy Matt Duchene and Steve Downie, and the free-agent addition of winger P.A. Parenteau from the New York Islanders.

The defense and goaltending were slated to return largely intact. Right now, goalie Semyon Varlamov is playing in the Kontinental Hockey League with his former team, Yaroslavl. He posted a 2-1 record with a .919 saves percentage in his first three outings.

Duchene and Landeskog also are playing in Europe. When/if the lockout ends, so will their contracts with the teams from overseas. But when will the lockout end? No one seems to have an answer.

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